Langshan Chickens

Tall, dual-purpose Langshans produce plenty of brown eggs.

Use: The Langshan is the dual purpose breed of the Asiatic Class, being the best layers in that group. They are very good layers of dark brown eggs. Smaller and more active than other breeds in the Asiatic class, they can be used as a table fowl.

History: Langshans originated in China. They were imported into England by Major Croad in 1872 and into America by 1876. One of the three breeds recognized in the Asiatic Class in the American Standard of Perfection. The Black Variety was first admitted in 1883, the White ten years later and the Blue over 100 years later in 1987.

Conformation: The Langshan is the tallest of the non-game breed. Although it is the lightest of the Asiatics, it stands the tallest. Like the other Asiatic breeds Langshans have feathered shanks – though the feathering is not as profuse as Cochins or Brahmas. The Langshan has a distinctive U-shaped profile; the head and tail forming the uprights. Langshans should have a stately appearance set upon firm, balanced legs. They have a large, well-spread tail and great depth of body. They have white skin and a Single Comb. Standard weights: Cock: 9 ½ lbs, Cockerel: 8 lbs., Hen: 7 ½ lbs., Pullet: 6 ½ lbs.

Special Considerations/Notes: Langshans are not typically high on the list for farmyard chickens, but they are prolific layers of dark brown eggs and add a certain majesty to any poultry yard.

Witch hazel will thrive almost anywhere. Considered a shrub or small tree, witch hazel’s crooked branches are covered in smooth, gray bark and witch hazel’s arresting, yellow flowers appear in the fall or winter – the bloom time depends on the species you choose. The distilled extract from witch hazel’s leaves and bark has long been used as a general tonic and swelling reducer, and witch hazel is still used to treat minor skin irritations, burns, acne and more. .

With smooth, needle-like leaves ranging from gray-green to silvery-gray, there are many different lavender varieties featuring a characteristically sweet, clean scent. Lavender’s volatile oils are thought to have antiseptic properties and were often used to clean wounds and freshen the air in hospitals and sick rooms. Now lavender oils are commonly found in herbal soaps, shampoos and perfumes. A fantastic border plant, lavender naturally repels insect pests and it dries well for use in wreaths, flower arrangements, potpourris and sachets.

Ginger is a tropical plant that looks like a stunted little corn plant. It generally will not tolerate temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Edible ginger cultivation follows more or less the same rules as container citrus cultivation in the northern areas. Ginger can even be grown in Iceland if a sunny window in a warm house is available. The ginger that one buys at the supermarket is usually fine for planting material. If the rhizomes aren’t damaged, they’ll likely sprout once placed in a pot of soil.

Witch hazel will thrive almost anywhere. Considered a shrub or small tree, witch hazel’s crooked branches are covered in smooth, gray bark and witch hazel’s arresting, yellow flowers appear in the fall or winter – the bloom time depends on the species you choose. The distilled extract from witch hazel’s leaves and bark has long been used as a general tonic and swelling reducer, and witch hazel is still used to treat minor skin irritations, burns, acne and more. .

With smooth, needle-like leaves ranging from gray-green to silvery-gray, there are many different lavender varieties featuring a characteristically sweet, clean scent. Lavender’s volatile oils are thought to have antiseptic properties and were often used to clean wounds and freshen the air in hospitals and sick rooms. Now lavender oils are commonly found in herbal soaps, shampoos and perfumes. A fantastic border plant, lavender naturally repels insect pests and it dries well for use in wreaths, flower arrangements, potpourris and sachets.

Ginger is a tropical plant that looks like a stunted little corn plant. It generally will not tolerate temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Edible ginger cultivation follows more or less the same rules as container citrus cultivation in the northern areas. Ginger can even be grown in Iceland if a sunny window in a warm house is available. The ginger that one buys at the supermarket is usually fine for planting material. If the rhizomes aren’t damaged, they’ll likely sprout once placed in a pot of soil.